XML data packaging system and method

ABSTRACT

A method for communicating data includes selecting a portion of data for communication to a remote computer, with the data portion in device-dependent format and comprising at least an integer, a real number, or a binary value. An XML tree of values is generated from the selected data portion and the XML tree comprises the selected portion of data with each value associated with one data type. The XML tree of values is bundled into a portable buffer communicated to the remote computer for processing the data portion in a second device-dependent format.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/538,383, entitled “XML Data Packaging System and Method,” filed Jan. 21, 2004 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to the field of data processing and, more particularly, to an XML data packaging system and method.

BACKGROUND

Many current computing networks may be considered heterogeneous networks, implying that a plurality of disparate computing devices are communicably coupled. These disparate devices often use different encodings of the same data type. For example, an integer value stored on an INTEL®-compliant device is different from the same integer value stored on a device operated by a SUN™ operating system or a device operated by a UNIX™ operating system. Typically, applications residing on the heterogeneous network are responsible for reformatting received data that is in a disparate format. Moreover, these applications often are customized or redesigned to process the data using the preferred encoding. Further, traditional C-based applications do not include XML APIs.

SUMMARY

This disclosure provides a data packaging system and method. In one embodiment, the method for communicating data includes selecting a portion of data for communication to a remote computer, with the data portion in device-dependent format and comprising at least an integer, a real number, or a binary value. A tree of values is generated from the selected data portion and the tree comprises the selected portion of data with each value associated with one data type. The tree of values is bundled into a portable XML buffer communicated to the remote computer for processing the data portion in a second device-dependent format.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system for packaging or communicating data in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for communicating data in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for processing a received portable buffer comprising device-independent data in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a networked system 100 for automatically packaging data in eXtensible Markup Language (XML) format according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In general, the present disclosure contemplates any system 100 that converts stored data into XML format on a first computer 102 a, dynamically packages the converted data into a portable buffer 150, and communicates portable buffer 150 from first computer 102 a to a second computer 102 b for subsequent processing. The term “automatically,” as used herein, generally means that the appropriate processing is substantially performed by at least part of system 100. It should be understood that “automatically” further contemplates any suitable user interaction with system 100 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The term “dynamically,” as used herein, generally means that the appropriate processing is determined at least partially at run-time based on one or more variables such as, for example, the operating system or hardware type of second computer 102 b. Accordingly, system 100 may comprise a portion of a distributed computing system, two computers 102 remotely located but communicably connected across the Internet, or any other suitable data processing system.

According to the illustrated embodiment, each computer system 102 includes graphical user interface 116, memory 120, processor 125, and an input device such as a keyboard, mouse or touch screen. The illustrated computer 102 also includes XML data parser 130 and dataset 135 that may be stored in memory 120 and executed or processed by processor 125. At a high level, as used in this document the term “computer” is intended to encompass a personal computer, workstation, server network computer, personal data assistant (PDA), dumb terminal, cell phone, pager, text message device, mainframe, or any other suitable data processing device. In other words, FIG. 1 only illustrates one example of a computer that may be used with the disclosure. Moreover, “computer system 102” and “user of computer 102” may be used interchangeably, as appropriate, without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Computer 102 may execute any operating system including UNIX™, WINDOWS™, LINUX™, and others. The present disclosure contemplates computers other than general purpose computers as well as computers without conventional operating systems. Further, while FIG. 1 illustrates two computers 102, system 100 may include any number of computers 102, including one, without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, computers 102 a and 102 b may represent two processes running separately on an individual computing device.

Computer 102 may include graphical user interface (GUI) 116, which comprises, at least, a graphical user interface operable to allow the user of computer 102 to interact with one or more processes executing on computer 102. Generally, GUI 116 provides the user of computer 102 with an efficient and user-friendly presentation of data provided by computer 102 or network 108. GUI 116 may comprise a plurality of displays having interactive fields, pull-down lists, and buttons operated by the user. In one example, GUI 116 presents an explorer-type interface and receives commands from the user. In another example, GUI 116 comprises a screen on a cell phone operable to present the phone user with data. It should be understood that the term graphical user interface may be used in the singular or in the plural to describe one or more graphical user interfaces and each of the displays of a particular graphical user interface. Further, GUI 116 contemplates any graphical user interface, such as a generic web browser, that processes information in computer 102 and efficiently presents the information to the user. Network 108 can accept data from the user of computer 102 via the web browser (e.g., MICROSOFT® INTERNET EXPLORER® or NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR™) and return the appropriate HTML, JAVA™, or eXtensible Markup Language (XML) responses.

Computer 102 may include an interface 104 for communicating with other computer systems over network 108 such as, for example, in a client-server or other distributed environment via link 106. In one example, XML data parser 130 receives data via network 108 for storage in memory 120. In another example, XML data parser 130 packages a device-independent representation of the data stored in memory into portable buffer 150 and communicates the packaged portable buffer 150 to another computer 102 via network 108. Network 108 facilitates wireless or wireline communication between various components of networked system 100, first computer 102 a any other remote computer, and others. Network 108 may communicate, for example, Internet Protocol (IP) packets, Frame Relay frames, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells, voice, video, data, and other suitable information between network addresses. Network 108 may include one or more local area networks (LANs), radio access networks (RANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), wide area networks (WANs), all or a portion of the global computer network known as the Internet, and/or any other communication system or systems at one or more locations. Generally, interface 104 comprises logic encoded in software and/or hardware in a suitable combination and operable to communicate with network 108 via link 106. More specifically, interface 104 may comprise software supporting one or more communications protocols associated with link 106 and communications network 108 hardware operable to communicate physical signals.

Memory 120 may include any memory, hard drive, or database module and may take the form of volatile or non-volatile memory including, without limitation, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), removable media, or any other suitable local or remote memory component. Illustrated memory 120 a stores, or includes references to, dataset 135 and XML tree 140. Generally, dataset 135 is device-dependent and includes a plurality of data objects of any appropriate data type, including float, integer, currency, date, Boolean, decimal, string, or any other numeric or non-numeric data type. Each data object is operable to store at least one logical value in the appropriate data type in the device-dependent format. For example, dataset 135 may comprise a relational database described in terms of SQL statements or scripts. Relational databases often use sets of schemas to describe the tables, columns, and relationships in the tables using basic principles known in the field of database design. In another embodiment, dataset 135 may comprise XML documents, flat files, Btrieve files, or comma-separated-value (CSV) files. Memory 120 may include any other suitable data or module or not include the illustrated elements without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Processor 125 executes instructions and manipulates data to perform the operations of computer 102 and related modules, such as processing by XML data parser 130 to create XML tree 140 based on data selected from dataset 135. Although FIG. 1 illustrates a single processor 125 in computer 102, multiple processors 125 may be used and reference to processor 125 is meant to include multiple processors 125 where applicable. Generally, XML data parser 130 could include any hardware, software, firmware, application program interface (API), logic, or combination thereof operable to access dataset 135, generate XML tree 140 based on the retrieved data, package tree 140 into portable buffer 150, and communicate portable buffer 150 within the scope of this disclosure. In other words, XML data parser 130 is any logical or physical component operable to maintain a list or tree 140 of device-independent values, associate identifiers to go with those values, and bundle tree 140 in portable buffer 150 that can be sent to computer 102 b, saved to disk. For example, XML data parser 130 may be written or described in any appropriate computer language including C, C++, JAVA™, VISUAL BASIC®, any suitable version of 4GL (fourth generation programming language), and others. Further, it will be understood that while XML data parser 130 is illustrated as a single multi-tasked module, the features and functionality performed by this module may be performed by multiple local or distributed modules such as, for example, a data retrieval module, a tree generation module, a buffering module, and a communication module. In other words, XML data parser 130 may comprise a first XML data parser 130 a and second XML data parser 130 b distributed across multiple machine and communicably connected. Moreover, while not illustrated, XML data parser 130 may be a child or sub-module of another module or application without departing from the scope of this disclosure, so long as XML data parser is partially involved in creating XML tree 140 based on dataset 135.

XML tree 140 comprises a list of values in an XML format, organized into a logical hierarchy. Normally, this XML format allows for most computing devices, running any suitable operating system or ASIC, to process the value. This enables disparate devices, executing unique operating systems and storing data in different formats, to easily and reliably communicate and process data. Each value in XML tree 140 is often associated with an identifier such as a name, address, or any other characteristic operable to identify the value. Moreover, each value may be associated with a data type such as, for example, integer, float, real, binary, Boolean, character, string, memory address, or any other suitable data type. This allows each value to stored in the XML format, without losing the original data type. For example, XML tree 140 may be a multi-dimensional array of a plurality of XML strings, each with an associated identifier and data type. In short, XML tree 140 comprises a device-independent data representation of any number of data objects, retrieved from dataset 135 in any appropriate format.

According to one embodiment, XML tree 140 organizes the device-dependent values using a list of entries defined by example EXP_HANDLE and EXP_POSITION variables. EXP_HANDLE is normally used to describe a subset of the entries logically residing at the same level or hierarchy in tree 140. Moreover, each tree 140 may be associated with a list handle, a name, a memory address, or any other appropriate unique identifier. Each entry in the list has a different EXP_POSITION. The topmost EXP_HANDLE is considered the parent handle of this list. According to certain embodiments, each entry in the tree 140 also has a child handle or set of children entries. In the situations where the entry is the lowest logical entry, the child EXP_HANDLE may include no entries. Accordingly, the combination of EXP_HANDLE and EXP_POSITION describes the logical location of one specific entry and, when appropriate, the parent and children of the entry. For example, XML tree 140 may include the following list of example entries representing example data objects:

Id=Oranges

Id=Apples

-   -   Id=Red Delicious         -   Id=Sweetness, Type=text, Value=TART         -   Id=Baking, Type=Boolean, Value=TRUE     -   Id=Macintosh     -   Id=Jonathan         -   Id=Sweetness, Type=text, Value=TART         -   Id=Baking, Type=Boolean, Value=TRUE     -   Id=Braeburn

Id=Bananas

In the example, the topmost EXP_HANDLE identifies the subset of the logically highest entries including Oranges, Apples, and Bananas. But each subset of entries is identified by a different EXP_POSITION. In other words, while Oranges, Apples, and Bananas share the same EXP_HANDLE value, each is associated with a different EXP_POSITION value. At the next logical level, the entries located in the subset “Apples” include Red Delicious, Macintosh, Jonathan, and Braeburn. Each entry in the “Apples” subset of share one EXP_HANDLE, different from that of the highest logical level, but each is associated with a different EXP_POSITION value. This EXP_HANDLE is the child handle of the entry Apples. It will be understood that this example is for illustration purposes only and XML tree 140 may include and number of data values, in any appropriate format, without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Portable buffer 150 comprises any data stream that may be communicated to second computer 102 b via network 108 or encoded in media for subsequent communication. Generally, buffer 150 is contiguous and portable to other platforms. In other words, buffer 150 comprises at least a communicable version of device-independent tree 140 b. According to certain embodiments, XML data parser 130 a converts, or packages, XML tree 140 a into portable buffer 150 for transport to any other computing device such as computer 102 b. Portable buffer 150 may be communicated using IP packets, frames, cells, or any other appropriate data bundle using any communicable protocol. Computer 102 b often uses XML data parser 130 b to receive portable buffer 150, convert portable buffer 150 into second tree 140 b, and communicates the data contained therein to an application 160.

Application 160 comprises any appropriate software module operable to process data stored in tree 140 b. Application 160 may be written or described in any appropriate computer language including C, C++, JAVA™, VISUAL BASIC®, any suitable version of 4GL, and others. According to one embodiment, application 160 comprises a C-based software module with one or more APIs to XML data parser 130 b. In this embodiment, application 160 may request or retrieve data from tree 140 b via XML data parser 130 b through the API. For example, tree 140 b may comprise data stored in XML string format, while application 160 may process data in Unicode format. In this example, application 160 requests data from XML data parser 130 b, which retrieves the requested data from tree 140 b and communicates the data to application 160 in the requested format, in this case Unicode.

According to one aspect of operation, XML data parser 130 a retrieves one or more data objects from dataset 135 based on a user request, automatically, or dynamically based on any suitable runtime variable. Next, XML data parser 130 a initializes XML tree 140. For example, XML data parser 130 a may call an Init( ) function. This example function may be used to begin tree 140 processing. It creates a handle that is used in subsequent calls. According to certain embodiments, Init( ) returns a handle or, if no memory was available, a NULL value. Once the top handle in tree 140 is initialized, XML data parser 130 a populates it with the retrieved data objects. This population may include importing another tree 140 into the current tree 140 without departing from the scope of the disclosure via an example ImportFromHandle( ) function utilizing pointers to the various trees 140. In one embodiment, this example function appends the contents to the end of the current tree 140.

XML data parser 130 a may also populate XML tree 140 or update or delete entries in XML tree 140 such as, for example, using functions Insert( ), Update( ), and Delete( ). Example function Insert( ) may insert a new entry into tree 140. In one example embodiment, XML data parser 130 a generally creates the entry by first determining the value in XML string format, the identifier, the length, and the data type. XML data parser 130 typically converts the current data object into XML string format. Then, XML data parser 130 a specifies the identifier to be given to the entry. It will be understood, however, that identifiers are optional and do not have to be unique. Returning to the example embodiment, XML data parser 130 a may provide an identifier using a valid XML character string. XML data parser 130 a may also specify the length of the value to be added to tree 140. This is usually used for binary and character string values. For a binary value, the length indicates the number of bytes of binary data. For a character string, the length would represent the number of characters. XML data parser 130 a then specifies the data type of the entry to be added. Data type value include binary, character or string, long integer, short integer, Boolean, float, double, “no value,” or any other appropriate data type. XML data parser 130 a may further specify where the data is to be logically inserted in tree 140 using position and before/after parameters. The position parameter may have been returned from another function or method or may be set to the value EXP_POSITION_HEAD, to insert at the beginning, or EXP_POSITION_TAIL, to insert at the end. If set to EXP_POSITION_HEAD or EXP_POSITION_TAIL, the exemplary before/after parameter may not be used. This position will typically allow access to this entry, regardless of whether entries are subsequently added or deleted before or after the newly added entry.

Once an entry has been inserted in tree 140, XML data parser 130 a may update it using, for example, an Update( ) function. This function may include the same parameters, with different one or more different values, as the Insert( ) that created the entry to be updated. For example, XML data parser 130 may use handle and position parameters to locate the entry, then update the XML value, change the length, the data type, or the identifier. In another example, XML data parser 130 may use the identifier to update the entry. Entries may also be delete from XML tree 140. For example, XML data parser 130 may use example Delete( ) to locate and remove the requested entry. This example function, typically uses only the location parameters, such as EXP_HANDLE or EXP_POSITION, or the identifier. At any time, XML data parser 130 may navigate tree 140 for various purposes such as, for example, to access or create entries, to export just a portion of the tree, to import another list into the current list, or for any other suitable purpose.

Once XML data parser 130 a is substantially finished populating or otherwise processing tree 140, then XML data parser 130 a may export tree 140 to portable buffer 150 for communication to computer 102 b, another remote data storage device, or another process running on computer 102 a. When XML tree 140 is to be saved on disk or sent across the network, the calling application must package the lists into a contiguous buffer. In one embodiment, resulting buffer 150 may comprise all of the data in the form of XML character strings, saved back to back. Moreover, XML identifiers or tags describing the data element name, type, and length may also be stored in buffer 150. For example, XML data parser 130 may call example Export function to automatically create portable buffer 150 based, at least in part, tree 140. Once buffer 150 has been created and communicated to computer 102 b, XML data parser 130 a may free the allocated memory such as, for example, by calling example ExportFree( ) function.

Continuing the example operation, computer 102 b receives portable buffer 150 via network 108 and stores buffer 150 in memory 120 b. XML data parser 130 b then, at any suitable time, imports the contents of buffer 150 into a second XML tree 140 b. For example, XML data parser 130 b may call example Import( ) function. In this example, Import( ) may cause the contents of buffer 150 to be appended to the end of tree 140 b. If the list handle is null, i.e. tree 140 b is yet to be created, then a list handle will be created in the process. Once tree 140 b is created and substantially populated, XML data parser 130 b may retrieve one or more data entries from tree 140 b at any appropriate time. For example, XML data parser 130 b may automatically retrieve data, dynamically select data based on any appropriate criteria, or use any other suitable selection and retrieval technique such as, for example, using example Get( ) function. This example function retrieves an entry out of XML tree 140 b by specifying which entry via using position and before/after parameters. As above, the position parameter is often used in conjunction with the before/after parameter to specify either the entry to retrieve (e.g., BeforeAfter=EXP_NO_ADVANCE), the entry prior to the entry to retrieve (e.g., BeforeAfter=EXP_AFTER), or the entry following the entry to retrieve (e.g., BeforeAfter=EXP_BEFORE). The example function may also retrieve data via example GetById( ) function, which locates the appropriate data using an identifier associated with the data. Once XML data parser 130 b collects the appropriate data, it may communicate the data to application 160, GUI 116, memory 120 b, or to any other suitable destination. Once processing of tree 140 b is processed by computer 102 b, XML data parser 130 b may destroy and free a list handle and associated tree 140 b via any appropriate technique such as, for example, Destroy( ). It will be understood that the aforementioned example functions and parameters are for illustration purposes only and any appropriate variable or characteristic, function, method, library, module, algorithm, or any other suitable software component may be used without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example method 200 for communicating data in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Generally, FIG. 2 describes method 200, which attempts to receive or retrieve a data subset, including non-numeric values, from dataset 135, creates a device-independent representation of the data, and communicates the device-independent data to a remote compute using a generated portable buffer 150. The following descriptions focuses on the operation of XML data parser 130 in performing method 200. But system 100 contemplates using any appropriate combination and arrangement of logical elements implementing some or all of the described functionality.

Method 200 begins at step 202, where XML data parser 130 a selects or receives a selection of a subset of data from dataset 135 at step 202. It will be understood that the selection may be dynamic, automatic, or in response to a request from a user or another computing process. Next, XML data parser 130 a determines the availability of memory 120 based on the selected subset at step 204. If there is not enough memory at decisional step 206, then processing ends. It will be understood, that alternatively XML data parser 130 a may put a request into a queue or round-robin to await free memory 120. Once there is enough memory 120, then XML data parser 130 a allocates memory 120 based on the subset at step 208. Next, at step 210, XML data parser 130 a initializes a first XML tree 140 a. Once data tree 140 a is initialized, XML data parser 130 a parses the selected subset into individual data objects or values at step 212. Next, in steps 214 through 228, XML data parser 130 a populates the initialized data tree 140 a based on the parsed data.

At step 214, XML data parser 130 a selects a first value from this parsed subset. A handle is determined for the selected value, at step 216, as well as a position for the selected value, at step 218. As described earlier, the handle, such as EXP_HANDLE, and the position, such as EXP_POSITION, represent a logical location in tree 140. At step 220, XML data parser 130 a associates an optional identifier name with the selected value. XML data parser 130 a then associates a data type with the selected value at step 222. The data type may be any value selected from the group including float, long integer, short integer, double, character, string, Boolean, binary, or any other appropriate data type. Once the appropriate characteristics of the selected value have been determined in steps 216 through 222, the value and the appropriate associated characteristics are inserted into XML tree 140 a at step 224. This insertion may include any conversion technique operable to convert the values into an appropriate device-independent data format such as, for example, XML. XML data parser 130 a then determines if there are more values in the selected subset at decisional step 226. If there are more values, then XML data parser 130 a selects the next value at step 228 and processes and returns to step 216. Otherwise, the population of XML tree 140 a is considered substantially complete.

According to certain embodiments, XML data parser 130 a determines if the populated tree 140 a is to be communicated to second computer 102 b. For example, XML data parser 130 a may automatically communicate tree 140 a, communicate tree 14 a 0 in response to request from the user of any computing device in system 100, or use any other appropriate determination technique. If tree 140 is not to be communicated to another computer, then processing ends. Otherwise, XML data parser 130 a converts or packages tree 140 into continuous portable buffer 150 at step 232. Once portable buffer 150 is generated, computer 102 a communicates portable buffer 150 to second computer 102 b via network 108 at step 234.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example method 300 for processing a received portable buffer 150, the buffer 150 comprising device-independent data in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. At a high level, method 300 describes an example technique including receiving portable buffer 150 from network 108, creating an XML tree 140, and, when appropriate, converting and communicating the data to application 160 or memory 120 in the appropriate format. The following description will focus on the operation of XML data parser 130 b in performing this method. But, as with the previous flowchart, system 100 contemplates using any appropriate combination and arrangement of logical elements implementing some or all of the described functionality.

Method 300 begins when second computer 102 b receives portable buffer 150 into allocated memory 120 b at step 302. Once received, XML data parser 130 b parses buffer 150 into individual values or entries at step 304. Next, at step 306, XML data parser 130 b generates or initializes an XML tree 140 b based on the parsed buffer. At step 308, XML data parser 130 b receives a request for one of the values in tree 140 from an application 160. XML data parser 130 b navigates tree 140 to locate the requested value based on the request. For example, the request from application 160 may include a handle in position, an identifier, or any other appropriate parameter operable to locate the requested value or entry. XML data parser 130 b retrieves the requested value from tree 140 at step 312. Next, XML data parser 130 b determines if the request called for a different data format at decisional step 314. If it does, then XML data parser 130 b converts the value stored in tree 140 into the requested data format such as, for example, Unicode or multibyte at step 316. Next, or if the request did not call for a different data format, XML data parser 130 b determines if there is another request at decisional step 318. If there are more requests, then processing returns to step 310 where the next request is processed similarly to the first request. Once all the requests have been suitably processed at decisional step 318, XML data parser 130 b communicates the one or more values to requesting application 160. According to certain embodiments, it will be understood that requesting application 160 may then utilize any appropriate processing without requiring the conversion of one encoding format to another. Finally, at step 322, XML data parser 130 b frees any memory 120 b allocated based on received portable buffer 150.

The preceding flowcharts and accompanying description illustrate only exemplary methods 200 and 300. In short, system 100 contemplates computer 102 using any suitable technique for performing these and other tasks. Accordingly, many of the steps in this flowchart may take place simultaneously and/or in different orders than as shown. Moreover, system 100 may use methods with additional steps, fewer steps, and/or different steps, so long as the methods remain appropriate.

Although this disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. 

1. A method for communicating data, comprising: receiving a dataset to communicate from a first computing device that executes a first operating system to a second computing device that executes a second operating system, wherein the first operating system encodes one or more data values in the received dataset using a first device-dependent format different from and incompatible with a second device-dependent format that the second operating system uses to encode the one or more data values in the received dataset; transforming, at the first computing device, the one or more data values in the received dataset from the first device-dependent format associated with the first operating system into an intermediate device-independent Extensible Markup Language (XML) format, wherein the transforming the one or more data values from the first device-dependent format into the intermediate device-independent XML format includes: initializing an XML tree that includes an logical hierarchy to organize the one or more data values in the received dataset; parsing the received dataset into the one or more data values, wherein the one or more data values in the parsed received dataset are associated with one or more data types; and populating the initialized XML tree with the one or more data values in the parsed received dataset, wherein the populating the initialized XML tree includes: determining one or more handles and one or more positions associated with the one or more data values in the parsed received dataset, wherein the one or more determined handles combined with the one or more determined positions represent logical locations that the one or more data values have in the logical hierarchy associated with the initialized XML tree; associating the one or more data values in the parsed received dataset with one or more identifiers and the one or more data types; converting the one or more data values from the first device-dependent format into one or more XML strings having the intermediate device-independent XML format; and inserting the one or more XML strings converted from the one or more data values, the one or more associated identifiers, and the one or more associated data types into the initialized XML tree at the logical locations that the one or more converted data values have in the initialized XML tree, thereby populating the initialized XML tree; and communicating a portable buffer that packages the populated initialized XML tree from the first computing device to the second computing device, wherein the second computing device, in response to receiving the communicated portable buffer from the first computing device: retrieves the one or more XML strings from the logical locations that the one or more converted data values have in the populated initialized XML tree; and converts the one or more XML strings retrieved from the populated initialized XML tree from the intermediate device-independent XML format into the second device-dependent format to process the one or more converted data values.
 2. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having one or more computer-executable instructions stored thereon which when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to: receive a dataset to communicate from a first computing device that executes a first operating system to a second computing device that executes a second operating system, wherein the first operating system encodes one or more data values in the received dataset using a first device-dependent format different from and incompatible with a second device-dependent format that the second operating system uses to encode the one or more data values in the received dataset; transform, at the first computing device, the one or more data values in the received dataset from the first device-dependent format associated with the first operating system into an intermediate device-independent Extensible Markup Language (XML) format, wherein the one or more computer-executable instructions that cause the one or more processors to transform the one or more data values from the first device-dependent format into the intermediate device-independent XML format further cause the one or more processors to: initialize an XML tree that includes an logical hierarchy to organize the one or more data values in the received dataset; parse the received dataset into the one or more data values, wherein the one or more data values in the parsed received dataset are associated with one or more data types; and populate the initialized XML tree with the one or more data values in the parsed received dataset, wherein the one or more computer-executable instructions that cause the one or more processors to populate the initialized XML tree with the one or more data values further cause the one or more processors to: determine one or more handles and one or more positions associated with the one or more data values in the parsed received dataset, wherein the one or more determined handles combined with the one or more determined positions represent logical locations that the one or more data values have in the logical hierarchy associated with the initialized XML tree; associate the one or more data values in the parsed received dataset with one or more identifiers and the one or more data types; convert the one or more data values from the first device-dependent format into one or more XML strings having the intermediate device-independent XML format; and insert the one or more XML strings converted from the one or more data values, the one or more associated identifiers, and the one or more associated data types into the initialized XML tree at the logical locations that the one or more converted data values have in the initialized XML tree, thereby populating the initialized XML tree; and communicate a portable buffer that packages the populated initialized XML tree from the first computing device to the second computing device, wherein the second computing device, in response to receiving the communicated portable buffer from the first computing device: retrieves the one or more XML strings from the logical locations that the one or more converted data values have in the populated initialized XML tree; and converts the one or more XML strings retrieved from the populated initialized XML tree from the intermediate device-independent XML format into the second device-dependent format to process the one or more converted data values.
 3. A system for communicating data, comprising: a first computing device configured to execute a first operating system that encodes data using a first device-dependent format; a second computing device configured to execute a second operating system that encodes data using a second device-dependent format different from and incompatible with the first device-dependent format; one or more processors configured to: receive a dataset to communicate from the second computing device to the first computing device, wherein the received dataset includes one or more data values encoded in the second device-dependent format associated with the second operating system; transform, at the second computing device, the one or more data values in the received dataset from the second device-dependent format associated with the second operating system into an intermediate device-independent Extensible Markup Language (XML) format, wherein to transform the one or more data values into the intermediate device-independent XML format, the one or more processors are further configured to: initialize an XML tree that includes an logical hierarchy to organize the one or more data values in the received dataset; parse the received dataset into the one or more data values, wherein the one or more data values in the parsed received dataset are associated with one or more data types; and populate the initialized XML tree with the one or more data values in the parsed received dataset, wherein to populate the initialized XML tree, the one or more processors are further configured to: determine one or more handles and one or more positions associated with the one or more data values in the parsed received dataset, wherein the one or more determined handles combined with the one or more determined positions represent logical locations that the one or more data values have in the logical hierarchy associated with the initialized XML tree; associate the one or more data values in the parsed received dataset with one or more identifiers and the one or more data types; convert the one or more data values from the second device-dependent format into one or more XML strings having the intermediate device-independent XML format; and insert the one or more XML strings converted from the one or more data values, the one or more associated identifiers, and the one or more associated data types into the initialized XML tree at the logical locations that the one or more data values have in the initialized XML tree, thereby populating the initialized XML tree; and communicate a portable buffer that packages the populated initialized XML tree from the second computing device to the first computing device, wherein the first computing device, in response to receiving the communicated portable buffer from the second computing device, is further configured to: retrieve the one or more XML strings from the logical locations that the one or more converted data values have in the populated initialized XML tree; and convert the one or more XML strings retrieved from the populated initialized XML tree from the intermediate device-independent XML format into the first device-dependent format to process the one or more converted data values. 